Export General Manifest (EGM): Process, Importance, and Compliance in India

The Export General Manifest (EGM) helps India's exporters get their shipments through customs clearance while meeting all necessary rules. The Export General Manifest assists businesses in handling trade risks as well as verifies shipping documents to make exporting easier. Exporters need precise and fast EGM processing to prevent shipping difficulties and possible penalties. This blog studies how the Export General Manifest (EGM) helps worldwide trade run smoothly and explains what forms it and when organizations need to send it.

What is the Export General Manifest?

The Export General Manifest (EGM) is one of the important documents in the export process. It is a declaration filed by carriers like shipping lines, airlines, or agents with Indian Customs. The EGM provides information about the goods being exported and ensures compliance

As a required filing during every export transaction out of India the Export General Manifest assists in trade handling while making shipments transparent for risk management and Customs compliance reviews.

Key Aspects of the Export General Manifest (EGM):

1. Legal Framework:

The Export General Manifest must be submitted according to both the Customs (Export of Goods at Customs Stations) Regulations, 2018, and the Customs Act of 1962.
Carriers must send the EGM document to Indian Customs before goods leave the port or airport.

2. Purpose of the EGM:

The EGM serves multiple purposes:

Regulatory Compliance: It verifies export product compliance with Indian regulations before shipment from India to other countries.
Risk Management: Customs uses EGM results to identify if exported goods pose security or documentation problems.
Verification of Export Goods: The EGM confirms that the industry exports goods as noted in the Export Declaration document prepared by the exporter.
Trade Facilitation: The EGM lets Customs stations work properly with goods which leads to faster export clearance without delay.

3. Contents of the Export General Manifest:

The EGM contains key details about the goods being exported, including

Carrier Information: The named transport provider handles the exported goods.
Vessel/Flight Information: It lists the vessel or flight identity along with its departure time from its specified location.
Cargo Description: Our export documents show what products we export with their specific codes together with their amounts, dimensions, and total value.
Exporter's Details: The document provides details about who runs the export business.
Consignee Information: The shipping record lists where the goods will go to the party who receives them by name and location.
Bill of Lading or Airway Bill: Each document holds its special ID known as the Bill of Lading (sea cargo) or Airway Bill (air cargo).
Port of Departure and Destination: Goods leave from the Indian port or airport at their starting point before they travel to their final destination port/airport.
Container Details: The records mention details about shipping containers when needed through numbers, types, and other associated data.

4. Submission Timeline:

Customs requires exporters to submit their EGM before the goods leave the port. Generally:

Sea Cargo: Customs requires an official EGM at least 24 hours before your vessel leaves.
Air Cargo: Customs needs the EGM document at least 4 hours in advance of flight departure.
Customs needs the EGM submission in time to enable goods clearance without delay.

5. Electronic Submission:

Payers submit EGM documents to the Indian Customs Electronic Data Interchange through ICEGATE.
The online platform makes better processing happen while cutting paper use and showing live export details.

6. Amendments to EGM:

When needed the EGM system permits users to adjust information about the consignee goods and vessels.
The Exporter's House Manifest remains open for changes through physical carrier loading. Reliable amendments to EGM must happen before ports accept new shipments.

7. Consequences of Non-Compliance:

Penalties: Authorities will punish exporters who submit EGM late or make mistakes with monetary fines or penalties.
Delays in Export Clearance: Clearance of goods for export depends on both proper and timely EGM submission. Delayed shipments would begin to pile up against the exporter's ability to hit delivery targets on time.
Risk of Seizure: Customs authorities will detain and take control of goods when they detect rules violations during export control inspections.

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8. EGM vs. Shipping Bill:

The Shipping Bill comes from the exporter to Customs but the carrier submits the EGM.
The Shipping Bill helps exporters stake out goods and prepare their export movement while the EGM lets Customs know which shipment the carrier is moving out of the country.
Customs needs to approve the Shipping Bill before goods can depart from India and the EGM helps Customs validate that export shipments receive complete and accurate documentation.

Structure and Layout of an Export General Manifest

The Export General Manifest (EGM) must be prepared following the Export Manifest (Vessels) Regulations, 1976, and the Export Manifest (Aircraft) Regulations, 1976. The export regulations specify four required documents that assist unique tasks. Here’s a simplified breakdown:

Form 1 – General Declaration
The export general manifest contains basic facts about the shipment while also functioning as a simple document declaration.

Form 2 – Passenger Manifest
This form discloses essential vessel data including name, rotation number, and currency information plus arrival and departure dates along with agent and captain names.
It marks any wireless devices and declares hazardous drug items on board.

Form 3 – Cargo Manifest
For aircraft: This document shows shipping information from the captain’s name to port dues receipt paperwork including specific goods and package numbers.
For vessels: Records personal items and professional information for everyone on the ship including ship details plus start and end times of voyages.

Form 4 – Private Property List
The form shows the personal property of everyone who works on the aircraft including the captain.

These official documents help us record needed details and follow customs export rules for ocean and air transportation.

Key Differences Between EGM and IGM:

Aspect	Export General Manifest (EGM)	Import General Manifest (IGM)
Purpose	Declares details of goods being exported from India.	Declares details of goods being imported into India.
Submitted By	The carrier (shipping line, airline, etc.).	The carrier (shipping line, airline, etc.).
Time of Submission	Before the departure of the cargo.	Before the arrival of the cargo.
Content	Information on the shipper, consignee, cargo, and export details.	Information on the consignor, consignee, cargo, and arrival details.
Customs Role	Facilitates export clearance and compliance with regulations.	Facilitates import clearance and compliance with regulations.

Conclusion:

Under India's Customs regulations, an Export General Manifest serves as a fundamental export document. Because it shows the export goods from India and helps meet all export regulation requirements the system lets authorities handle risks better and moves customs procedures faster. Providing both the EGM on time and listing complete export details is needed to help export shipments move through customs easily while keeping them safe from fine or delay problems. People moving exports out of India connect to ICEGATE's system to make the export journey faster while strengthening worldwide trading processes.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the export general manifest (EGM) process?
Customs requires ship owners to submit a mandatory Export General Manifest with details about the items leaving their vessel. The system allows shipments to pass import regulations and permits customs to release goods. You must submit your EGM filing ahead of departure to meet export rules.

Who is responsible for EGM?
Personnel in charge of transportation systems need to submit EGM documents to the authorities. Customs permits authorized agents to prepare EGM filings when approved by the organization. After receiving authorization customs transfers all filing responsibilities to the agent.

Who files EGM?
Before each flight departure, the shipper or their approved representative submits the EGM for import-tracking purposes. The system helps to maintain correct export recordkeeping and follow export rules. Customs authorities will extend filing deadlines when the exporter gives them proper security.

What is EGM used for?
The export general manifesto proves export transactions help exporters qualify for duty refunds and stay compliant with customs standards while maintaining accurate shipment records. The system verifies whether shipping bill items were shipped abroad or returned to their origin. Additionally, it marks items that were declared canceled.

How to check EGM?
Exporter can find their Exporter's Goods Manifest status at the ICEGATE portal. They can sign in to see if their customs approval is ready and verify their export information. You need accurate documentation to receive export benefits and maintain legal customs compliance.

What is DHL manifest?
Each group of shipments that moves through DHL receives its own document listing its complete contents. The document shows all shipment IDs and tells where the packages go and what they hold. The system helps operations run smoothly while helping us see our shipping and customs activities.